Compressor plate for filing trays



Jan. 28, 1930. N. s. WELK COMPRESSOR PLATE FOR FILING TRAYS Filed July22, 1927 INVENTOR W A Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICENELSON S. WELK, OF ATHENS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCBEE BINDER 00., OFATHENS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO COMPRESSOR PLATE Application filedJuly 22,

My invention relates to the stationery art, and particularly to traysand containers for receiving cards, and the like, for filing.

The object of my invention is to provide new and adequate means forcreating pressure on filed cards and insuring the maintenance of suchpressure at all times when the tray is being moved. Experience hasproven that undesired displacements of filed cards have occurred by themoving and shifting of the tray holding the cards, and my device isadapted to completely overcome such a possibility.

My invention consists of certain details of construction hereinafter setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail View, partly in section, of my improved device.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 10 is usedto indicate a filing tray of the usual construction with base and sides,the bottom thereof containing the customary construction of spacedrunners 11 on which the cards, sheets, or the like, rest, a securing rod12 for perforated cards (not shown) extending longitudinally between thespaced runners 11. Thus far my filing tray does not differ from theconstruction I have heretofore been using, as disclosed in my copendingapplications, Serial Nos. 90,477 and 90,478.

The numeral 13 indicates my improved compressor plate, hinged at 14: toa mounting 15, said mounting 15 curving upwardly in the space betweenthe runners 11, the upward portion containing the hinge 14:, so that theplate 13 is secured below the runners 11. The mounting 15 is secured tothe front of the drawer. The compressor plate 13 is mount ed near theforward part of the tray, as shown. A handle 16 is pivotally mounted tobrackets, 17 and 18, secured to the inner surface of the front of thetray, a rod 19 (in the construction shown) passing through the handle 16and orifices in the brackets 17 and FOR FILING TRAYS 1927. Serial No.207,606.

18, thus completing the pivotal mounting mentioned. The handle 16extends through an opening 20 in the front of the tray, thus providingfor the forward part of the handle 16 lying outside the front of thetray. Means, preferably consisting of rollers 21, is mountedtransversely across the inner end of the handle 16, and, when the handle16 is rotated to a substantially horizontal position, engage thecompressor plate 13, forcing it rearwardly from its pivotal mounting andproducing pressure against the filed cards, or sheets. Vertical stripmembers 22, secured to the front of the compressor plate 13 and bentoutwardly at their lower ends to form stops 22, providebearing surfacesfor rollers 21 and limit the downward movement of said rollers saidstops 22 being so arranged that when the handle 16 engages them thecompressor plate 13 is in a subtantially vertical position against thefiled cards, or sheets. My construction is such, and the parts are socorrelated in their positioning, that the whole surface of thecompressor plate 13 en gages the filed sheets, for, it will beremembored, the hinge of the compressor plate 13 is below the bottom ofthe sheets, thus causing the lower part of the plate 13 to move rearwardfrom its pivotal mounting when forced by the engagement of the handle16. The handle 16 is of such a size that, when it engages the stops 22the inner end of the handle 16 will lie slightly below the plane of thepivotal mounting of said handle, and it is also constructed so that theportion of the handle 16 lying forward of the pivotal mounting isslightly more in weight than the portion lying to the rear of thepivotal mounting. It is obvious that, by such construction,

when the handle 16 is forced against the compressor plate 13, moving itrearwardly against the papers, it, will, when it engages the stops 22 onthe compressor plate 13, be automatically maintained in that position,but a slight downward pressure on the outer end of the handle 16 willimmediately release it, and the handle 16, of its own weight, willrotate on its pivotal mounting, thus releasing the compressor plate 13.

In my drawings I have disclosed a preferred construction, but myinvention is susceptible of several different constructions, and I donot Want to be limited in the scope of my protection, except as setforth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I regard as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. In a filing tray, a base, sides and ends, a compressor plate, hingedto the base below the plane of the bottom of the filing cards; the frontend of the tray being provided with an opening; a handle memberextending through the opening and pivotally mounted on the inner face ofthe front end, said handle extending upwardly beyond the pivotalmounting to engage the front surface of the compressor plate.

2. A In a filing tray, 21 base, sides and ends, a compressor plate,hinged to the base below the plane of the bottom of the filing cards;the front portion of the tray being provided with an opening therein; ahandle extending through the opening and pivotally mounted on the innerface of the front portion, a roller mounted transversely across theinner end of said handle; said handle extending upwardly beyond thepivotal mounting so that the roller engages the front surface of thecompressor plate.

NELSON S. VVELK.

